दुर्गं वै त्रिपुरस्यास्य न समं विद्यते पुरम् तस्याप्येषो ऽनयः प्राप्तो न दुर्गं कारणं क्वचित्
There is no fortress equal to that of Tripura; yet even that has come to ruin—no stronghold can ever be a true cause of safety.
कालस्यैव वशे सर्वं दुर्गं दुर्गतरं च यत् काले क्रुद्धे कथं कालात् त्राणं नो ऽद्य भविष्यति
All things, even the strongest fortresses, are subject to Time; when Time is enraged, how could there be any protection from Time today?
एकेषु त्रिषु यत्किंचिद् बलं वै सर्वजन्तुषु कालस्य तद्वशं सर्वम् इति पैतामहो विधिः
Whatever power exists in any of the three worlds, among all beings, is entirely under the sway of Time—so declares the ordinance of the Grandsire.
अस्मिन्कः प्रभवेद्योगो ह्य् असंधार्ये ऽमितात्मनि लङ्घने कः समर्थः स्याद् ऋते देवं महेश्वरम्
Who could exert mastery here, over this boundless and unrestrainable being? Who could cross over, except for the great god Maheśvara?
बिभेमि नेन्द्राद्धि यमाद् वरुणान्न च वित्तपात् स्वामी चैषां तु देवानां दुर्जयः स महेश्वरः
I do not fear Indra, nor Yama, nor Varuṇa, nor Kubera; but the lord of these gods, Maheśvara, is unconquerable.
ऐश्वर्यस्य फलं यत्तत् प्रभुत्वस्य च यत्फलम् तदद्य दर्शयिष्यामि यावद्वीराः समन्ततः
The fruit of sovereignty, and the result of supreme power—I shall display that today, while the heroes are all around.
वापीममृततोयेन पूर्णां स्रक्ष्ये वरौषधीः जीविष्यन्ति तदा दैत्याः संजीवनवरौषधैः
I shall create a pond filled with water of immortality and rare herbs; then the Daityas will live again, revived by the life-restoring herbs.
इति संचिन्त्य बलवान् मयो मायाविनां वरः मायया ससृजे वापीं रम्भामिव पितामहः
Thinking thus, the mighty Maya, foremost among magicians, created by his magic a pond, like the Grandsire once did with the mango tree.
द्वियोजनायतां दीर्घां पूर्णयोजनविस्तृताम् आरोहसंक्रमवतीं चित्ररूपां कथामिव
It was two yojanas long, a yojana wide, with steps and landings, wondrous in form, like a marvelous tale.
इन्दोः किरणकल्पेन मृष्टेनामृतगन्धिना पूर्णां परमतोयेन गुणपूर्णामिवाङ्गनाम्
It was filled with supreme water, fragrant with nectar, shining like the rays of the moon, as if endowed with every virtue like a noble woman.
उत्पलैः कुमुदैः पद्मैर् वृतां कादम्बकैस्तथा चन्द्रभास्करवर्णाभैर् भीमैर् आवरणैर्वृताम्
It was surrounded by blue lotuses, white water-lilies, and red lotuses, with clusters of kadamba flowers, and encircled by fearsome barriers shining with the hues of the moon and sun.
खगैर् मधुररावैश्च चारुचामीकरप्रभैः कामैषिभिर् इवाकीर्णां जीवानामरणीम् इव
It was filled with birds of sweet song, radiant as gold, crowded with wish-fulfilling beings, like a fire of life for the living.
तां वापीं सृज्य स मयो गङ्गामिव महेश्वरः तस्यां प्रक्षालयामास विद्युन्मालिनमादितः
Having created that pond, Maya, like Maheśvara with the Ganga, washed Vidyunmālī in it first.
स वाप्यां मज्जितो दैत्यो देवशत्रुर्महाबलः उत्तस्थाविन्धनैरिद्धः सद्यो हुत इवानलः
Immersed in the pond, that mighty Daitya, enemy of the gods, rose up at once, blazing like a fire kindled with fuel.
मयस्य चाञ्जलिं कृत्वा तारकाख्यो ऽभिवादितः विद्युन्मालीति वचनं मयमुत्थाय चाब्रवीत्
Having made a respectful salutation to Maya, Tāraka by name, addressed him, saying, 'I am Vidyunmālī,' and rose up.
क्व नन्दी सह रुद्रेण वृतः प्रमथजम्बुकैः युध्यामो ऽरीन् विनिष्पीड्य दया देहेषु का हि नः
'Where is Nandī, surrounded by Rudra and the Pramatha jackals? Let us fight, crushing our enemies—what need have we for mercy in our bodies?'
अन्वास्यैव च रुद्रस्य भवामः प्रभविष्णवः तैर्वा विनिहता युद्धे भविष्यामो यमाशनाः
If we do not follow Rudra, O mighty ones, we shall be slain by them in battle and become food for Yama.
विद्युन्मालेर् निशम्यैतन् मयो वचनमूर्जितम् तं परिष्वज्य सार्द्राक्ष इदमाह महासुरः
Hearing these powerful words, Vidyunmāli, his eyes moist, embraced him, and the great Asura spoke this:
विद्युन्मालिन्न मे राज्यम् अभिप्रेतं न जीवितम् त्वया विना महाबाहो किमन्येन महासुर
O Vidyunmāli, I do not desire the kingdom, nor even life itself; O mighty-armed one, what use is anything else to me without you, great Asura?
महामृतमयी वापी ह्य् एषा मायाभिरीश्वर सृष्टा दानवदैत्यानां हतानां जीववर्धिनी
This great, immortal pool, O lord of Maya, has been created by you through your magic; it restores life to the slain Dānavas and Daityas.
दिष्ट्या त्वां दैत्य पश्यामि यमलोकाद् इहागतम् दुर्गतावनयग्रस्तं भोक्ष्यामो ऽद्य महानिधिम्
By fortune, O Daitya, I see you here, returned from the realm of Yama, rescued from misfortune; today we shall enjoy a great treasure.
दृष्ट्वा दृष्ट्वा च तां वापीं मायया मयनिर्मिताम् हृष्टाननाक्षा दैत्येन्द्रा इदं वचनमब्रुवन्
Seeing again and again that pool created by Maya's magic, the Daitya lords, their faces and eyes beaming with joy, spoke these words:
दानवा युध्यतेदानीं प्रमथैः सह निर्भयाः मयेन निर्मिता वापी हतान्संजीवयिष्यति
Now let the Dānavas fight fearlessly with the Pramathas; the pool created by Maya will revive those who are slain.
ततः क्षुब्धाम्बुधिनिभा भेरी सा तु भयंकरी वाद्यमाना ननादोच्चै रौरवी सा पुनः पुनः
Then the terrifying drum, sounding like the agitated ocean, was beaten and roared loudly in the Raurava mode, again and again.
श्रुत्वा भेरीरवं घोरं मेघारम्भितसंनिभम् न्यपतन्नसुरास्तूर्णं त्रिपुराद्युद्धलालसाः
Hearing the dreadful sound of the drum, like the rumbling of gathering clouds, the Asuras, eager for the battle of Tripura, swiftly fell upon the field.
लोहराजतसौवर्णैः कटकैर्मणिराजितैः आमुक्तैः कुण्डलैर्हारैर् मुकुटैरपि चोत्कटैः
Adorned with armlets of iron, silver, and gold, set with jewels, and with splendid earrings, necklaces, and towering crowns,
धूमायिता ह्यविरमा ज्वलन्त इव पावकाः आयुधानि समादाय काशिनो दृढविक्रमाः
Constantly smoking, as if blazing with fire, they seized their weapons, shining and resolute in their valor.
नृत्यमाना इव नटा गर्जन्त इव तोयदाः करोच्छ्रया इव गजाः सिंहा इव च निर्भयाः
Dancing like actors, roaring like thunderclouds, towering like elephants with raised trunks, and fearless like lions,
ह्रदा इव च गम्भीराः सूर्या इव प्रतापिताः द्रुमा इव च दैत्येन्द्रास् त्रासयन्तो बलं महत्
Deep as lakes, blazing like the sun, and like trees, the Daitya lords struck terror into the great army.
प्रमथा अपि सोत्साहा गरुडोत्पातपातिनः युयुत्सवो ऽभिधावन्ति दानवान्दानवारयः
The Pramathas, eager for battle, swooped down like Garuḍas, attacking the Dānavas, those restrainers of Dānavas.